Geocoding

Geocoding is the computational process of transforming a postal address description to a location on the Earth's surface (spatial representation in numerical coordinates) - wikipedia

Reverse geocoding, on the other hand, converts the inputted geographic coordinates to a description of a location, usually the name of a place or a postal address. Geocoding relies on a computer representation of the street network. Geocoding is sometimes used for conversion from ZIP codes or postal codes to coordinates, occasionally for the conversion of parcel identifiers to centroid coordinates.

Geocoding (verb): The act of transforming an address text into a valid spatial representation.

Geocoder (noun): A piece of software or a (web) service that implements a geocoding process i.e. a set of interrelated components in the form of operations, algorithms, and data sources that work together to produce a spatial representation for descriptive locational references.

Geocode (noun): A spatial representation of a descriptive locational reference.

The geographic coordinates representing locations often vary greatly in positional accuracy. Examples include building centroids, land parcels, street addresses, postal code centroids (e.g. ZIP codes, CEDEX), and Administrative Boundary Centroids.

The proliferation and ease of access to geocoding (and reverse-geocoding services raises privacy concerns. For example, in mapping crime incidents, law enforcement agencies aim to balance the privacy rights of victims and offenders, with the public's right to know.

Law enforcement agencies have experimented with alternative geocoding techniques that allow them to mask a portion of the locational detail (e.g., address specifics that would lead to identifying a victim or offender).

As well, in providing online crime mapping to the public, they also place disclaimers regarding the locational accuracy of points on the map, acknowledging these location masking techniques, and impose terms of use for the information - wikipedia